How many people have made a New Year’s resolution to join a gym and by February have lost interest? According to the International Health, Racquet, and Sports Club Association, “over 50% of new health club members quit within the first six months of joining a health club.” Even though some say, for this reason, that hiring a personal trainer is a bad idea, Certified Personal Trainers can help you to reach your fitness goals because they can lead you through proven steps and methods that you need to get started. Additionally, they are also able to provide mind-body activities for their clients. Individuals need to seek out trainers so that they can be inspired by a trainer’s motivational techniques, improve their personal commitment level, and gain knowledge about how to start a program.

The biggest reason for failure to meet fitness goals is that it is very hard for most people to begin something new if they do not know where to start. An expert in the field can lead you through proven steps and methodology needed to get started. These steps will allow you to form habits, follow programs around cardio, weight training, and proper eating habits. Setting a program and routine prepares a fitness beginner for success with your trainer’s help. According to surveys by IDEA Fitness, often times individuals attempt to start a program knowing they have existing health issues, such as arthritis, diabetes, obesity or other medical concerns. Personal trainers are able to make assessments regarding these health conditions, and design a safe, practical, and effective program to follow. A trainer will educate and train clients on how to improve their chances of success and will limit chances of injury. Trainers can verify that moves are being done correctly, review workouts, and make fitness assessments about their client’ s body. Also the trainer can review fitness ability, strength, and balance issues. If exercises are done incorrectly, it can do more harm than good. “If your joints are misaligned, your body’s going to compensate, and eventually it will break down, “says Eugene Jang, M.S.P.T.C.S.C.S. With guidance, a Personal Trainer can help you to avoid running into trouble.”

Accountability is typically another major reason for failure to complete a goal of continued physical health. Steven Maraboli once said, “The right thing to do and the hard thing to do are usually the same.” It is proven that trainers promote accountability to complete their goals. Sticking with a well-intended plan is always a challenge. Psychologists have defined self-control as the ability to resist short term pleasure in order to follow plans that are beneficial in the long term. This was proven by the “Marshmallow test” at Stanford University in the 1960’s. The marshmallow test proved that a group of small children were unable to resist eating one marshmallow in order to wait and “win” access to two marshmallows in a short period of time. This behavior analogy is similar to that of an adult that finds it more rewarding to sit on the couch and enjoy the short term benefit of relaxing rather than receive the long term health benefit of short workout at the gym first.

Another major reason most fail at reaching their goal is there is no one to hold them accountable to show up to the gym. Trainers are the reminder that you have someone other than yourself to answer to. Even if you don’t show up as scheduled, you know you’re going to be confronted with follow up questions regarding your activity levels and your commitment. This will keep your self control in check for the long term benefit. A personal trainer will hold you accountable and keep you motivated until you see results, which are not immediate typically.

Keeping that appointment with a trainer will also impact you financially to make sure to keep accountability in check. It reminds you that if you do not maintain your scheduled exercise time you will pay with your hard earned money whether you show up or not. It is a waste of money if your commitment to the calendar and yourself are not followed through. Spending not only time, but money, will keep anyone motivated. They know what to look for and can point out small changes you may not see yourself. Will Owens, a CPT at Ellis Fitness in Pennsylvania explains that often clients, once they see the benefits of training, would rather spend their cash on this service over a car payment!

A trainer’s perspective, as an outsider’s view, allows you to remain positive, and can reinforce positive new learnings and behaviors. Trainers can work closely with individuals to remove the intimidation factor of the gym as well. Nicole Nicholas fitness expert and Editor-in-Chief for SparkPeople.com suggests that trainers are not life coaches or motivation speakers. However, she needs to consider that trainers always find just the right thing to say to make the client push themselves and work a little harder. Many personal trainers provide mind-body activities like yoga or tai chi. They often find the inner potential you weren’t even aware of. They can even help you discover insights about yourself. Lauren Robertson, a training client quoted at IDEA Fitness, highlights that her trainer “supports her with exercise goals and milestones”. She also says that “he is a great resource to her for overall healthy living.”

New Year’s Resolutions are tough to keep, no matter what you choose to focus on. Choosing a major lifestyle change such as joining a gym to start a healthier way of life is a huge goal to undertake. Hiring a Certified Personal Trainer is a proven way to help beat the discouraging odds. With limitations in the way like lack of motivation and personal accountability, people need to turn to experts to overcome them. If you want to set yourself in the right direction, leaning on someone in the know to help you lay the groundwork is always easier than trying to get started without someone to help you plan the way. Like well-known fitness expert Jillian Michaels mentions on her blog, “Why choose to fail when success is an option?”

The Physical dimension of wellness involves encouraging regular activities that produce endurance, flexibility and strength. Read each statement carefully and respond honestly by using the following scoring:

Do you know your trainer? Fitness professionals get a bad rap at times, and most of the time they’ve earned it. There are many trainers out there that are more interested in their self gratification rather than taking care what is most important, the client. I have sat back and watched trainers with their clients.

There are 2 types of trainers. One who stands there looking pissed off and not wanting to be there. They have their arms crossed and are not even having a conversation with their client, and even more important there not even correcting the form of their client.

There is a 2ndtype of trainer. One that looks the part, they are engaged with their clients. Making sure each step of the way their client is using proper form, standing a sports stance ready to help the client. The trainer is focus on their client and having a conversation.

I sometimes ask why some trainers got into this profession. You should ask yourself the same thing if your trainer is like the 1stone. If they are more like the 2ndone they are well worth the money you invested in your health and fitness.

A complex illness affecting multiple systems of the body, in particular, the nervous and immune system. CFS or Chronic fatigue syndrome has many symptoms including extreme exhaustion, aching muscles, joint pain, headache, dysfunctional sleep, and flu-like feelings. Recovery can take years if at not at all, most people suffer relapses throughout their lives. There is no known cause CFS.

Often a problem for most chronic fatigue syndromes suffers, exercise can worsen their symptoms. Whether people with the syndrome should attempt regular exercise or not is divided upon the medical field opinion. But some good evidence that a program of graded modest aerobic exercise may improve function in many with the syndrome. Physicians do in general advise suffers to carefully pace themselves and encourage them to avoid unusual physical or emotional stress.

A person with CFS needs a gentle approach to physical activity and should only make tiny increases in frequency, duration and intensity of their exercise program. Some doctors recommend graded exercise therapy (GET) as part of a treatment regimen. Research shows that GET can help you alleviate symptoms and regain functionality, while exercise can be an important part of your treatment, it’s not a cure, and it takes time for it to work.

There are many reasons people need to hire a personal trainer. Sometimes we all need a little help with exercise. Weight training injuries increased as much as 48% between 1990 and 2007 according to a study by the American journal of sports medicine. The take home-home message is good form matters. Along with good form a personal trainer also can help with the following 10 reasons.
1. Motivation
One of the main reasons people benefit from a personal trainer is that they loss motivation to stick with a consistent exercise program. Certified personal trainers can provide structure and accountability, and help you develop a lifestyle that encourages health.
2. Individualized program
If you have any chronic health conditions, injuries or training goals (running a marathon, for example) a trainer will work with you and your health care provider to plan a safe, efficient program that considers these needs and enable you to reach your health goals.
3. Efficiency
Personal Trainers help you focus on results and stop wasting your time doing inefficient workouts. A personal trainer has a plan and will help you get maximum results in minimum time.
4. Improve technical skills
If you play a particular sport, the right personal trainer will help you improve your skill by showing you new training techniques specific to your sport. The Trainer will incorporate skills training into your program so you improve not only your strength and endurance, but your agility and mental focus as well.
5. You are new to exercise
If you are an absolute beginner; a personal trainer is the ultimate fitness coach. A good trainer will introduce you to a very simple, effective routine and build efficiently so before you know it, you have the confidence and knowledge to decide what is right for you.
6. Break through plateaus
Ok, you are already in pretty decent shape, but you've been there for years. If you are stuck in the same routine and want to break out of a rut, a personal trainer is the perfect solution. A trainer will jump start, not only your motivation, but you’re routine as well.
7. Learn how to go it alone
If you ultimately want to learn all the facets of designing your own routines so you don't need to use a personal trainer, going for a few months may be all you need. All good personal trainers will teach you the basics of building and modifying a fitness program to achieve maximum results.
8. Workout Safely
A personal trainer watches your form, monitors your vitals and can provide objective feedback about your limits and strengths. Most of us tend to ignore some of the subtle signals our body provides. We either push through pain or give up too soon. Because a personal trainer can watch what you are doing while you are doing it, they can help push you or slow you down as necessary.
9. Workout at home
Many personal trainers make house calls. If you don't have the type or interest in going to a gym, but have a hard time knowing what to do on your own at home, a personal trainer can bring fitness into your living room.
10. Lose Weight
There is a good reason that the number one reason people hire personal trainers is to lose weight and get into shape -- it works. If you made a resolution to lose the fat and build the muscle, a trainer can keep you on track and help you realize that goal.
Before you hire a personal trainer you should ask the folloing questions
• What are there qualifications and certification?
A qualified personal trainer has an education in physiology, health promotion, athletic training, kinesiology or a similar field. They should have first aide and CPR certification as well as certification from a reputable organization such as ACSM, ACE, IDEA, YMCA, NSCA NCSF or similar.
• Do you have liability insurance?
They should answer yes.
• What are your policies and procedures?
A personal trainer should have a documented policy explaining their services, costs, cancellations, length of contract, and emergency procedures. They should also require a medical clearance form to be completed before they work with you.
• Finally, you should feel comfortable with the trainer, his/her style of communication and the expectations of your time together

Your Body uses calories for fuel and knowing how can make a big difference in how you approach your weight loss program. The body primarily uses fat and carbs for fuel. A small amount of protien is used durning exercise, but it's mainly used to repair the muscles after exercise. Depending on the activity in which you are doing the ratio of these fuels will shift. A fast paced-running (higher intensity exercise) will rely more on carbs for fuel than fat. That's because the metabolic pathways available to break down carbs for energy are more effcient than the path ways available for fat breakdown. Longer, slower exercise, fat is used more for energy than carbs. When it comes to weight loss, it doesn't matter what type of fuel you use. What matters is how many calories you burn as opposed to how many calories you take in. Just because you're using more fat as energy doesn't mean your're burning more calories, is the bottom line.
In good Health,
Michael

Many people believe that strength training decreases flexibility. Actually, a well rounded program of progressive resistance exercise is likely to increase flexibility beyond normal ranges, when the movements are carried through a complete range of motion (ROM) and when exercises are selected to include both members of antagonistic (opposing) muscle groups.

Nearly 1 in 3 Adults has hypertension and it’s on the rise. A recent article by AP reports US fails to fight High Blood Pressure. High Blood Pressure is relatively simple to prevent and treat yet it’s the nation’s second leading cause of death, simply cutting salt, eating more potassium and getting some exercise. It had long been supposed that the effort involved with weight training could be problematic for people suffering from high blood pressure. However, the medical literature reveals that properly performed strength training has actually been shown to reduce resting blood pressure in mildly hypertensive adults without the risk of dangerous blood pressure increase. Check us out at Vertex Fitness and see how we can put you through a safe and effective workout. And meet your fitness goals!

Breathing while working out you would think would come natural, but it does not. Must of us hold our breath during strength training or heavy exertion which is called Valsalva maneuver. The Valsalva maneuver involves forcibly exhaling against a closed glottis (entrance to the throat), which increases your pressure in your chest. This raise in chest pressure can couple with adverse effects that could become life-threatening.
Breathing throughout the performance of exercise should be continuous and natural, and it should be performed with an open mouth. As an exercise becomes more difficult and the lactic acid begins to accumulate in your muscles, causing that “burning” sensation, you should deliberately breathe faster, or hyperventilate. This step will help you break the urge to hold your breath and employ the Valsalva maneuver.
Two good articles to check out on the importance in breathing when lifting weights are www.livestrong.com or www.answers.com
In Good Health,
Michael

It’s that time of year where many new bee’s flock to the gym in search of reaching their goal of New Year’s resolution of better health, losing weight, and looking better. But for those that all ready are gym goers there are a few individuals that that suffer from exercise addiction. Individuals with an exercise addiction are characterized by their compulsive exercise behaviors, and over involvement in exercise and the presence of an activity disorder. Exercise addiction is maladaptive, so instead of enhancing the person’s life, it is detrimental maladaptive, so instead of enhancing the person’s life, it is detrimental. It can threaten health, causing injuries, physical damage due to inadequate rest, and in some instances malnutrition and other problems. Exercise addicts may be driven to work out despite exhaustion or injury. Intense exercise addiction can lead to permanent physical damage, as the body is not allowed to recuperate between workouts. This addiction not only causes these issues but also causes the person to skip school, miss work, forgo social events, and exercise even when they are ill or tired.
There are many signs of exercise addiction including fatigue, soreness and stiffness, and hormonal changes. Such as decreased testosterone in males and increased production of cortisol, a hormone produced in response to stree that can cause the breakdown of bone, leading to an increased risk of stress fractures and osteoporosis, muscle wasting can also be a side effect of the addiction. Anxiety and discomfort with rest or relaxation, and inability to stop exercising are all behavioral signs of the addiction.
In Good Health,
Michael

Michael was inspired to become a certified personal trainer through his own experience in fitness training. During the long hours of dedicated training in Sports and Power training, he discovered his passion for fitness and helping others met their health and fitness goals.
Michael is certificate in fitness, nutrition and wellness from Penn Foaster. He is also is nationally certified with National Council on Strength and Fitness as a personal trainer. With the certification from the NCSF and certificate from Penn Foaster it gives the necessary tools to help his clients to reach their health and fitness goals.
As a professional trainer, Michael believes in a holistic approach to wellness and fitness. Michael’s mission as a professional trainer is to help his clients improve the quality of their lives through improved health, fitness, attitude and vitality. His sincere wish for his clients is to feel good everyday and to live life as a rewarding experience. Michael strives to not only meet your expectations, but exceed them.